Five films honored by Heartland Film in 2025 win Academy Awards

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The 98th Academy Awards took place on Sunday, March 15. Five films honored by Heartland Film won Oscars, including “The Singers,” which received the Oscar-qualifying Narrative Grand Prize Award at the 2025 Indy Shorts Film Festival.

Three short films showcased at the festivals took home Oscars. “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” were both Official Selections at the Indy Shorts Film Festival in 2025, and they share the Oscar for Best Live Action Short. Along with winning the Narrative Grand Prize Award at Indy Shorts, “The Singers” won the Narrative Audience Choice Award.

“All the Empty Rooms” was a Special Presentation at the Heartland Film Festival in 2025 and won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Director Joshua Seftel has a close relationship with Heartland Film. This is his second Oscar-nominated short film to come through the festivals. His documentary short, “Stranger at the Gate,” won the Academy Award-qualifying Grand Prize at the 2023 Indy Shorts Film Festival and went on to receive an Oscar Nomination that year.

“Congratulations to the newly-minted Oscar winners,” said Greg Sorvig, Artistic Director of Heartland Film. “Three short films showcased by Heartland Film won an Academy Award, which is an organization record!”

Two feature films celebrated by Heartland Film received Academy Awards. “Sentimental Value” from Neon was the International Closing Night film at the 2025 Heartland Film Festival and won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Heartland Film also presents the Truly Moving Picture Award to studio titles that do more than entertain. “Hamnet” was honored with the Truly Moving Picture Award in 2025, and Jessie Buckley took home the Oscar for Best Lead Actress for her role. The full list of Academy Award Winners can be found here.

Heartland Film has now showcased a total of 13 Oscar-winning short films. Film submissions are open for both the Indy Shorts Film Festival in July and the Heartland Film Festival in October. Last week, the Heartland Film Festival was named the No. 1 Best Film Festival by USA TODAY 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Filmmakers can submit their films through FilmFreeway.com.